For the Reporter
In the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series, held Aug. 15-17 at Pacific Raceways in Kent, Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif., and Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., took home the wins in Top Alcohol Dragster and Top Alcohol Funny Car, respectively.
Demke worked his way through the field and ran 5.348 seconds at 271.02 mph in his final round victory over Johnny Ahten, Santa Clarita, Calif., who clocked in at 11.602 seconds, 65.58 mph.
Off the line, Ahten was up in smoke, and Demke drove by him to take the win.
It was Demke’s fifth win of the season. He has scored two National and three Regional event wins and looks to continue his success the rest of the year and move toward the Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series World Championship.
Gordon faced off against Sean Bellemeur, Anaheim, Calif., and posted a winning run of 5.602 seconds, 256.11 mph in his ’12 Mustang. Bellemeur drove to a 5.628 second, 255.24 mph lap for his runner-up finish.
The final round was a rematch between Gordon and Bellemeur from the nationals a few weeks back at Pacific Raceways. Bellemeur had the better light off the line, but Gordon had the better car down track to take the win. Gordon defeated Bellemeur for the second time this year at this track for his second Wally of the year.
Another racer who took home a Wally this weekend in Comp Eliminator was Jeff Lane, North Bend. He posted a winning run of 9.810 seconds, 98.48 mph. He faced off against Adam Bowdish, Vancouver, Wash., who fouled off the line. Lane has had much success running in the Comp Eliminator class in his career and picked up his 19th win in Division 6 history.
Other racers visiting the winner’s circle this weekend were Rick McKinney, Richmond, B.C., in Super Stock; Dave Jung, Surrey, B.C., in Stock Eliminator; Mike Shannon, Kelowna, B.C., in Super Comp; Rick Cates, Canyon, Texas, in Super Gas; and Jerry Denton, Tempe, Ariz., in Super Street.
In the division’s RH Racecars Top Sportsman class, it was Mike Lucas, Fort St. John, B.C., taking the win while Nick Axtman Jr., Silverdale, won in the division’s Big Rig Rentals Top Dragster series. The Sportsman Motorcycle class presented by Harley-Davidson also competed at this event and taking home the win was Jon Jenkins, Richmond, B.C.
Northwest Division racers head to Mission Raceway for their next NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event, Sept. 5-7.
The following are the final results from the NHRA Lucas Oil Drag Racing Series event at Pacific Raceways:
TOP ALCOHOL DRAGSTER:
Round 1
4) Garrett Bateman, Albany, Ore., 5.313, 274.05 def. 5) Cameron Ferre, Huntington Beach, Calif., 5.526, 228.04;
1) Johnny Ahten, Santa Clarita, Calif., 5.202, 269.73 def. 8) Jeff Ashwell, Keizer, Ore., 6.022, 179.59;
3) Shawn Cowie, Delta, B.C., 5.396, 268.12 def. 6) Megan McKernan, Sierra Madre, Calif., 5.517, 265.69;
2) Chris Demke, Tujunga, Calif., 5.278, 272.78 def. 7) Kim Parker, Graham, Wash., broke;
Semi-Finals
Demke, 5.357, 269.62 def. Cowie, 5.436, 266.95;
Ahten, 5.273, 267.85 def. Bateman, 6.268, 156.73;
Finals
Demke, 5.348, 271.02 def. Ahten, 11.602, 65.58.
TOP ALCOHOL FUNNY CAR:
Round 1
1) Clint Thompson, Klamath Falls, Ore., ’06 Monte Carlo, 5.530, 262.44 def. 8) Randy Parker, Puyallup, Wash., ’04 Mustang, foul;
2) Nick Januik, Las Vegas, ’06 Monte Carlo, 5.561, 258.57 def. 7) Dave Germain, Toledo, Wash., ’06 Monte Carlo, 11.609, 75.35;
3) Sean Bellemeur, Anaheim, Calif., ’04 Camaro, 5.639, 255.34 def. 6) Brian Hough, Junction City, Ore., ’10 Mustang, 5.665, 250.09;
5) Doug Gordon, Paso Robles, Calif., ’12 Mustang, 5.597, 258.22 def. 4) Steve Gasparrelli, West Covina, Calif., ’06 Monte Carlo, 5.635, 260.66;
Semi-Finals
Gordon, 6.736, 246.66 def. Thompson, 6.730, 249.12;
Bellemeur, 5.613, 254.95 def. Januik, 5.577, 259.36;
Finals
Gordon, 5.602, 256.11 def. Bellemeur, 5.628, 255.24.
COMP ELIMINATOR
Jeff Lane, North Bend, Wash., ’11 Chevrolet, C/SMA, 9.810, 98.48 def. Adam Bowdish, Vancouver, Wash.,
’13 Cobalt, C/SMA, foul.
SUPER STOCK
Rick Mc Kinney, Richmond, B.C., ’84 Cutlass, SS/KA, 10.647, 123.13 def. Troy Olsonawski, Federal Way, Wash., ’66 Malibu Wagon, SS/NA, foul.
STOCK ELIMINATOR
Dave Jung, Surrey, B.C., ’81 Malibu, L/SA, 12.264, 105.14 def. Karen Comstock, Las Vegas, ’13 Mustang, AAA/SA, 9.103, 141.15.
SUPER COMP
Mike Shannon, Kelowna, B.C., ’05 Undercover, 8.907, 166.74 def. Trevor Harkema, Hayden, Idaho, ’06 Davis, 8.889, 170.21.
SUPER GAS
Rick Cates, Canyon, Texas, ’07 Corvette, 9.921, 160.94 def. Steve Laskowske, Tigard, Ore., ’67 Nova, 9.918, 152.93.
SUPER STREET
Jerry Denton, Tempe, Ariz., ’66 Nova, 10.947, 135.02 def. Casey Plaizier, Edmonton, Alb., ’56 Chevy, 10.888, 128.84.
TOP DRAGSTER
Nick Axtman Jr., Silverdale, Wash., ’07 Mullis, 7.189, 185.28 def. Jon Bradford, Tucson, Ariz., ’13 Spitzer, foul.
TOP SPORTSMAN
Mike Lucas, Fort St John, B.C., ’00 Avenger, 7.835, 164.57 def. Shawn Herbst, Selah, Wash., ’63 Corvette, 17.479, 53.15.
SPORTSMAN MOTORCYCLE PRESENTED BY HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Jon Jenkins, Richmond, B.C., ’84 Suzuki, 8.798, 148.51 def. Jake Havens, Edmonds, Wash., ’08 Suzuki, 8.685, 150.95.
